Fruit-washer.



No. 790,909. V PATENTED MAY 30, 1905. L. E. MUCANN.

FRUIT WASHER.

APPLICATION FILET) PEIB.Z0, 1905.

UNITED 'STATES Patented May 30, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEVVIS E. MGCANN, OF ONTARlO, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-WASHER.

SPECIFICATION formifig part of Letters Patent No. 790,909, dated May 30, 1905.

Application filed February 20, 1905. Serial No. 246,540.

T0 aZZ whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that I, LEWIS E. MGCANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ontario, in the connty of San Bernardino and State of Califprnia, have invented certain new and useful Imrarovements in Fruit-Washers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for washing peaches and other fruits after they have been treated with chemicals for the purpose of removing their skins.

'1he object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, durable, and highly-efiicient apparatus of this character by means of which the fruit will be thoronghly washed and cleaned.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel featres of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will behereinarter deScribed and claimed.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a fruitwashing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical transvers sectional view taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Referring to thedrawings by numerals, 1 denotes my improved washing apparatus, which consists of a water-tank 2, a washing-cylinder 3, and a supporting-frame 4; for said cylinder.-

The frame 4: may be inounted in any desired .manner above the tank 2 and is constructed of sections of pipe connected by elbow and T- shaped Couplings. As shown, said frame.is disposed vertically and is of rectanglar form, consisting of a lowerhorizontal portion or pipe 5, which forms a tubular shaft upon which the cylinder 3 is mounted,vertical por: tions or pipes 6, and an npper horizontal portion or pipe 7. lhe pipes 5, 6, and 7 are connected by elbows 8, and the portion 7 pwhich is composed of two pipe-sections, has the inner ends of said sections secured in the oppositely-projecting arms of a T-coupling 9. The other arnn of said coupling 9 is connected to a water-supply pipe 10, in which is provided a controllingvalve 11.

The washing cylinder or drum 3 is disposed horizontally and has its lower portion projecting into the tank 2. bly supported and monted by means of spiders l2,which consist of radial arme or spokes The cylinder is revolu 13 and heads or hubs 14, which are mounted' to rotate ireely upon the tubnlar shaft or pipe 5 of the frame 4:. The cylinder may be rotated in any desired manner; but 1 preferably provide npon its onter surface at one of its ends a cog-wheel or gear 15, which may be driven by a pinion, worm-wheel, or any suitable driving element upon a power-shaft.

The tank 2 is of rectangular form and has at one of its ends a fruit-inlet spout or chute 16 and at its opposite en,d a'fruitdischarge spout 17. 'The spout or chute 16 is adapted to direct the fruit into the forward open end of the cylinder 3, and the spout or chute 17 conducts the fruit after it has been washed from the open rear end of the cylinder. At a suitable point in the bottom of the tank 2 is provided an outlet-piipe 18, in which is disposed a controllingvalve 19.

In order to feed the peaches or other fruit through the cylinder and at the saine time inner surface of said cylinder angnlarly and radially disposed angle metal plates 20.and upon the tublar spra-nozzles 21. The agitating plates or devices 20 are spaced apart, as shown in Fig.l,

.so that as the-cylinder is rotatcd the fruit will be rolled from one to the other of said plates or dvices, and thns moved througlr the cylinder. The discharge-nozzles 21 are so disposed that they will spray the fruit as it falls from one plate or device 20 to the next, and in this waythe fruit is agitated or turned so that every portion of it is exposed to-the spray from said nozzles.

'1he construction, operatibn, and advantages of the apparatns will be understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection witli the accompanymg draw1ngs.

fruit has been treated with chemicals which remove their skins theg. are disoharged upon,

After the shaft or pipe 5 a series of 1 the chute 16, whioh directs them into the cylinder 3, where they are subjected to a stropg jet or spray of cold water or othercleaniiig liquid which is discharged from' the nozzles 21. The angular or radial'disposition of the plates or devices feed thefruit rearwardly and at the same time turn or roll the same, so that it will be thoroughlywashed and cleaned.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted t0 withut departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus of the charact'er described, comprising a tank, a tubular stationary shaft mounted above said tank, a washing-cy1inder mounted to rotate upon said shaft, angularlydisposed agitating devices upon the-inner surface of said cylinder, spray-nozzles upon said Shaft Within said Cylinder, and-means for Supplying liquid to said tubular shaft, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus of the ciass described, comprising a tank, a rectangular frame mounted' above said tank and composed of pipe-sections, a revoluble washing-cylinder mounted to permit the peripheny thereof t0 revolve through the frame, angularly-disposed agitating devices on the inner surface of said cylinder, spray-nozzles upon said frame within said cylinder, and a valve controlled liquid supply pipe for said frame, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank, a valve-controlled outletpipe therefor, inlet and discharge chutes et the ends of said tank, a Vertically-disposed rectangular supporting-irame mounted above said tank and composed of pipe-sections, a valve-controlled Supply-pipe connected to the' upper portion of said frame, spray-nozzles upon the lower portion of said frame, spiders mounted t0 iotate upon the lower portion of said fraine, a washingcy1inder carried by said spiders, angulariy-disposed angle metal plates upon the inner surface of said cylinder, and means for rotating said cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in nresence of two subscribing 'witmesses.

LEWIS E. MCCANN.

Witnesses J. R. PLLOOK, J. H. FRIEND. 

